Ground-mounted solar panels are a great alternative for customers who want solar – but don’t have a roof that’s suitable for them.
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On top of being an alternative to rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar systems can be used on farms, in your garden, and more!
In this article, we’ll explain what a ground-mounted solar system is and if you should consider it for your property.
Calculate how many solar panels your home will need to eliminate your electric billA ground-mounted solar power system is just what it sounds like - a system of solar panels that are mounted on the ground on your property, rather than on the roof of your house.
A ground-mounted solar power system is just what it sounds like – a system of solar panels installed at ground level, rather than on the roof of your house.
Depending on your choice of racking system, the solar panels will be positioned a few inches to several feet above the ground.
Module-level power electronics, required for rapid shutdown, will be attached to the panels, but other system components can be located some distance away, so you can put temperature-sensitive equipment like string inverters and solar batteries in your garage.
With ground-mounted installations, you have the flexibility to work with solar panels of any size, including large ‘commercial’ modules featuring 72 cells (or 144 half-cells) or more, whereas rooftop systems are typically restricted to 60-cell panels which are smaller and lighter.
Ground-mounted solar panels can be installed anywhere with good sun exposure and sufficient amounts of open space – a minimum of 350 square feet is usually required.
Ground-mounted solar panels are also known as backyard solar panels, free-standing solar panels, and ground-mount PV systems.
Standard or traditional ground mounts use multiple small anchors to support a racking table for the solar panels. Many anchor types can be used, including concrete piers (most common), driven piers, helical piles, and concrete ballasts. The best anchoring method for you will depend on your ground conditions.
Standard ground mount systems typically hold the solar array in a fixed position, although options for manual adjustment are gaining popularity.
The standard ground-mount system is the easiest and most cost-effective solution for a ground install, and also the most popular.
To build a pole-mount solar system, you’ll dig a single deep hole in the ground. It’ll hold a large pole, upon which you’ll connect your rails and mount your solar panels.
Pole-mount systems offer greater clearance from the ground, which is useful in avoiding foliage or other ground obstructions. We’ve even seen animals grazing and taking shelter from the sun underneath them!
Another advantage of pole mounts is that they can easily incorporate a single-axis or dual-axis tracking system; these enable the panels to follow the sun over the course of the day and thus produce more energy.
On the flip side, pole mounts with tracking systems have a higher cost per watt, so it’s usually more cost-effective to buy a standard ground-mount array featuring a greater number of panels.
Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking about going solar with a ground-mounted solar panel installation.
The biggest advantage with ground-mounted solar panels is that they offer greater control over your solar panel direction and angle. Solar panels need to face either south or southwest to receive maximum direct sunlight. On flat ground, you can position solar panels in any direction you want to maximize sun exposure, unlike on a slanted roof.
This advantage means ground panels often receive more sunlight, allowing them to generate more solar power, thus saving you more money.
Your roof may also have obstructions, such as a skylight or chimney, which would make it difficult to install panels there. The ground generally provides more room to install more panels than the roof does.
On the other hand, panels on the ground can interfere with your home's overall aesthetic more than they would on the roof. Installation of ground panels also takes significantly more time and effort and is generally more expensive than rooftop panels.
However, if your ground-mounted system is also able to produce more energy, then this extra cost can be offset over time.
Find out how much you can save with a ground-mounted systemIf your home uses a lot of energy, then ground-mounted panels might be better for you. This is particularly true if you have a lot of open space on your property, allowing you to install more solar panels than you can fit on your roof. Installing a larger system will allow you to generate more power and better meet your needs.
Of course, if your yard is on the small side, there might not be enough room to install as many panels as you need. Additionally, if you don’t have the extra space, installing solar panels on the ground will leave little to no room for your lawn, flower beds, or other landscaping. If that's important to you, then rooftop panels may be a better option.
Ground mounts are more common for certain types of solar systems, like off-grid setups. But they can be used by anyone if they have the space!
There are other options if your roof isn’t suitable for solar panels; you can also consider a solar carport, a solar patio, or even a solar tree!
The average home requires about 19 solar ground-mounted panels.
Here are the back-of-the-envelope calculations used to reach this figure:
Let’s assume the use of 400-watt panels and a location that gets 4 peak sun hours per day. Each solar panel will produce 1.6 kWh (1,600 watt-hours) of electricity per day.
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Average household energy usage is around 900 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month or 30 kWh per day.
To build a solar system capable of covering average energy usage, you’d need at least (30 kWh / 1.6 kWh =) 19 solar panels.
Your home’s electricity usage and sunlight availability may be different from average, of course. To find out the exact number of solar panels required by your home, use our advanced solar calculator below.
Calculate how many solar panels your home will need to eliminate your electric billHere are the top five companies that provide ground-mounted solar panels.
Qcells: With high-quality solar panels and U.S. manufacturing, Qcells are one of the best in the business.
Maxeon (formerly SunPower): Maxeon has the most efficient panels, but they’re expensive.
REC Group: REC panels are known to deliver excellent performance.
Trina Solar and Canadian Solar: These solar manufacturing giants sell highly-reliable panels at budget prices.
Compare two top brands here: Qcells vs REC
Yes, some homeowners have been successful with DIY ground-mount solar panel installations.
When it comes to buying the equipment, you can either find a special ground-mount solar kit or ask an equipment supplier to adapt a standard rooftop kit for you by swapping out the mounting & racking equipment.
However, DIY ground-mount installations are generally considered more challenging than rooftop jobs since you’ll need to use concrete and perhaps even an excavator when anchoring the array.
You'll generally only see the shiny new panels when you install a rooftop solar panel system. But right under those panels is racking equipment, which is key to keeping them secure and in place.
The right racking equipment for your system primarily depends on your roof type. From there, you'll have a few brands to choose from––but usually, your installer will have preferred racking equipment that they'll select for you.
High-quality solar companies build systems meant to last. So, as long as you're confident in your installer, you should feel confident in the racking equipment they suggest. We'll explain some of the top brands you'll see in quotes from top installers, and how to make sure you're getting the right racking equipment installed.
A solar racking system safely affixes solar panels to different surfaces, such as your roof or yard. Solar companies use racking products to hold equipment in place during an installation. Solar racking, also called solar mounting, is usually made from aluminum, which works well for rooftop installations due to its strength and low weight compared to other materials.
Solar racking is a vital part of any solar installation, but represents only a small percentage of total system costs––right around 3%, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For an average-priced 11 kW solar panel system ($31,460 before incentives), that comes out to $1,068 for racking equipment.
Installing solar panels on a roof involves drilling holes susceptible to leaking if they're not adequately covered. Flashing is a material that stops water from leaking through your roof, usually as a thin, rectangular piece of aluminum sheeting. An installer will insert flashing underneath shingles on a traditional asphalt tile roof. For roofs made with tile, metal, rubber, or wood, your installer will use specially designed flashings that fit the unique shape of your roofing material.
Solar panel systems are attached to your roof with mounts. Mounts are sometimes referred to as "feet" and are usually attached to your roof with a bolt through the flashing and into a rafter, securing your whole system. There are many varieties of mounts used in different racking systems. Solar installers need access to your attic or the underside of your roof during an initial site visit to ensure that your rafters are structurally intact and appropriately spaced to accommodate the mounts for your solar panel system.
Mounts hold up rails, the component of solar racking that your solar panels sit directly on top of. They are often long aluminum tracks installed vertically or horizontally on your roof plane. Several alternative rail setups exist to standard rails, such as rail-less or shared-rail. An added benefit of rails is that they provide a clear space to run the wiring of your solar panel system, helping to reduce clutter and improve the safety and aesthetics of your installation.
To keep solar panels secured in place on racking, installers use clamps, which link solar modules to the rails below. Installers will often use both mid-clamps and end-clamps on an installation. Mid-clamps sit between solar panels and them in place on two sides, while end-clamps sit at the ends of the full system and are typically larger.
Most installers have preferred racking equipment that they typically work with. We'll dive into the top brands you may come across when getting quotes. Many of these brands offer standard "penetrating" rooftop racking, which works with traditional asphalt roofs. The right racking equipment for you will depend on your specific roof type.
SnapNrack is a solar racking company based in California that specializes in making a snap-in racking solution. Their Ultra Rail Roof Mount System uses snap-in brackets for attaching rails, making any installation easy. They also produce ground-mounted racking systems and more traditional penetrating rooftop solutions without snap-in rails. To minimize risk and reduce time spent on the roof, they also offer a mounting system that allows most of the installation process to be performed on the ground.
Unirac has several product lines, all catering to different types of residential and commercial solar panel systems. Unirac offers racking equipment that can be installed on various angles of pitched roofs, flat roofs, and ground-mounted systems. According to the company's website, Unirac has been included in over 2.5 million installations.
Generally thought of as making some of the physically toughest racking products, IronRidge offers pitched roof, flat roof, and ground-mounted racking solutions. IronRidge also tested components of their pitched roof systems in extreme environments, including Florida's high-velocity hurricane zones. IronRidge is based in California and has been operational since the mid-s.
You can install solar on most roof types, but penetrating roof mounts aren't the best option for every roofing material. Quick Mount PV and EcoFasten are two solar panel rack manufacturers that have developed more specialized products for specific roof types, including standing seam metal roofs and clay and Spanish tile roofs.
If you have a standing seam metal roof, your installer can use Quick Mount PV and EcoFasten mounting systems to clamp onto the roof's seams without making any holes. Drilling holes in the roof is a time-consuming process that has to be done carefully so your roof remains watertight after installation. Your installer can speed up the installation by using Quick Mount PV or EcoFasten racking on standing seam metal roofs.
Clay and Spanish tile roofs are more brittle and easier to break than asphalt, composite, or metal roofs. Quick Mount PV has developed a Tile Replacement Mount to make installing solar on clay and Spanish tile easier. Tile Replacement Mount products are shaped like roof tiles and can be swapped with existing tiles on your roof. In addition to making the installation process easier, they ensure your solar installation is watertight since your installer isn't making holes in your roof to mount your panels.
Tracking mounts are more expensive than stationary ground mounts or rooftop mounting systems–but they can be a good investment if your primary goal is to maximize your energy production.
It can be easy to overlook your solar mounting hardware since it's mostly hidden under your solar panels. And honestly, that's often OK. While this equipment is integral to your solar panel system, quality installers will install quality racking equipment, so you don't need to focus on it too much. But if you do want to be involved in deciding which racking equipment you get installed, here are some of the top factors to consider:
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